The chairman of Emirates said on Tuesday that the Dubai carrier could not have achieved its current size by joining one of the big global airlines alliances.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum told reporters at the Arabian Travel Market event in Dubai that the decision to go it alone was key to its success and growth rate.
“From the start we said we would be on our own. At the time we asked if we did not go with the alliances would it be a negative thing for Emirates in the future? A number of airlines joined alliances because they see the big ones there, so it must be good. It doesn’t follow that if someone is big he knows more,” he said. “If we went with the alliances I don’t think you would see Emirates at the size it is today.”
Emirates and other regional carriers face allegations from US and European rivals that they have benefited from unfair government support. The Gulf carriers deny the allegations which have soured relations between Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways on one side and airlines Delta, United and American on the other.
“We will prove we are right and there are no subsidies,” said Sheikh Ahmed.
He said the airline should be given adequate time to respond to specific allegations contained in a 55-page dossier compiled by the US carriers.
“We have all the data but putting it all together takes time,” he said. “They have been working on this for a couple of years. We should be also be given sufficient time to answer these allegations.”
scronin@thenational.ae
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